Arizona State transfer Gerald Brown scored a game-high 28 points as Pepperdine outlasted Auburn 62-55 in the first round of BYU's Cougar Classic at the Marriott Center. The Waves, which shot 59 percent from the field in the first half, jumped out to a 32-16 lead with 5:02 left in the half. The Tigers sliced into the margin to trail 34-26 at intermission. Auburn re-took the lead at 44-43 on a Mamadou N'diaye jumper in the lane with 7:55 left in the game. However, N'diaye fouled out 15 seconds later and the Waves took control. After leading 47-45, the Waves scored nine straight points over the next two minutes to take control. Auburn shot a miserable 38 percent from the field an even worse 18 percent (4-22) from 3-point range. The Waves, who made only six second half field goals, went 15-17 (.882) from the foul line. Bryant Smith led the Tigers with 14 points while Franklin Williams and N'diaye chipped in 10 points apiece. Jelani Gardner, a transfer from Cal and one of four transfers on the Wave roster, had 12 points.